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Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Fifty-three years ago, the late Robert Friedberg (1912-1963) broke new ground when the Treasury Department granted permission for photographs of American paper money to be printed for the first time. The inaugural edition of Paper Money of the United States introduced other innovations never before attempted, as well. The subject became standardized and the book earned a permanent place on reference shelves. During the past twenty-eight years, it has been completely revised and edited by Ira and Arthur Friedberg, who is also the current president of the International Association of Professional Numismatists. New information has been added and valuations adjusted, enabling the reader to establish the collector's value of any note. It is recognized as a landmark work and is the undisputed standard reference on American currency -- internationally acknowledged as the most comprehensive and universally quoted guide on the subject.

As with any price catalogue, the eighteenth edition of Paper Money of the United States is a snapshot in time - and as 2006 draws to a close, a remarkable time it is. Never in the history of paper money collecting have prices shown such a dramatic, across the board increase - so much so that some prices needed to be raised further even as the book was already at the printer. It is now fully revised and updated, and published by The Coin & Currency Institute of Clifton, N.J.

This issue includes twenty-three pages of color photographs (three more than in previous editions) mostly illustrating the collections of the American Numismatic Association in Colorado Springs, Colorado and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Another interesting feature is a table and graph showing the price history of uncirculated type notes as reflected in editions of the book from 1953 to the present. Making its first appearance is a section on United States Paper Money Errors, compiled by Fred and Doris Bart, who are the recognized authorities on the subject. This chapter illustrates, describes and gives price indications for the types of errors usually found on currency. Also included for the first time is a complete listing of Large Size Star Notes. While these are much more frequently encountered in the current size currency, they were issued for large size currency beginning in 1910. All of them are quite rare in comparison to their regular-issue counterparts, with which they are listed in sequence. Large Size Note collectors will find that the addition of five notes in the section devoted to the Legal Tender Notes of 1862 and 1863 introduces new Friedberg Numbers 17b, 93a, 93b, 124a and 126c.

From the first year of Federal paper money, 1861, to the present, the fronts and backs of all classes and types of currency, from 3 cents to 10,000 dollars are illustrated. These are accompanied by text listing, describing and pricing every variety of paper money ever issued in as many as six states of preservation, from Very Good to Choice Uncirculated (more than 10,000 prices). This is the first time in the book's long history that so many prices are listed. There are close to 1,000 photographs in total. The result is a complete pictorial, descriptive and numismatic history of the currency of the United States. There are also supplemental sections on Colonial and Continental Currency (notes issued from 1680 to 1788), the Treasury Notes of the War of 1812, considered by some to be the first national currency, a comprehensive listing by type of the issues of the Confederate States of America, and a complete listing of the 14,348 National Banks that existed from 1863 to 1929 when these institutions were allowed to issue currency.

Paper money collectors depend on the Friedberg Numbering System, a uniform method of cataloguing bank notes that is the international standard for American currency. This numbering shorthand, along with the hundreds of photographs, enables anyone to instantly locate a specific banknote, and allows a dealer to advertise a note without need of extensive description.

A distinguished panel of acknowledged experts on paper money has assisted the authors, enabling them to establish accurate and up-to-the minute valuations for all issues.

Paper Money of the United States has been an invaluable asset to currency collectors and numismatists for half a century. It possesses an appeal and value of its own, not just to lovers of Americana and of the fine art of engraving, but to students of American history, finance and economics.

Banks in America and throughout the world will find this book especially useful in that it makes possible the immediate identification of all obsolete but still legal tender paper money, while simultaneously giving the collector's value of each note. It is a book which belongs in every library, public and private.

From the Back Cover

Paper Money of the United States Arthur and Ira Friedberg The standard reference work on paper money 18th edition The Coin and Currency Institute Institute

This landmark work is the standard reference on American currency.It is internationally acknowledged as the most comprehen sive and universally recognized guide on the subject, illustrating and valuating all types of United States paper money.

From the first year of Federal paper money, 1861, to the present, the fronts and backs of all classes and types of currency, from 3 cents to 10,000 dollars are illustrated. These are accompanied by text listing, describing and pricing every variety of paper money ever issued. The result is a complete pictorial, descriptive and numismatic history of the currency of the United States. There are also sections on Colonial and Continental currency (notes issued from 1680 to 1788), and a complete listing by type of the issues of the Confederate States of America (1861-1864). Both are illustrated and have market values in several states of preservation.

Illustrations of United States currency are reproduced in color. And for those who think of America's currency as a constant study in green and black, the rainbow-like diversity of this section is a revelation. It contains a nearly complete collection of United States large size currency, many of them in the finest state of preservation possible and some so extremely rare that they may only be seen either on these pages or in an exhibition.

A distinguished panel of acknowledged experts on paper money has assisted the authors, enabling them to establish accurate and up-to-the minute valuations for all issues.

The publication of Paper Money of the United States introduced innovations never before attempted. Robert Friedberg (1912-1963) was the first to standardize this subject and gave this book a permanent place on reference shelves. For the past twenty-five years, it has been completely revised and edited by Ira and Arthur Friedberg, sons of the author. New information has been added and valuations have been updated, making it possible to establish the value of any note.

Paper Money of the United States has been an invaluable asset to currency collectors and numismatists for more than fifty years. It also possesses an appeal and value of its own, not just to lovers of Americana and of the fine art of engraving, but to students of American history, finance and economics.

Banks in America and throughout the world will find this book especially useful in that it makes possible the immediate identification of all obsolete but still legal tender paper money, while simultaneously giving a market valuation.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

The Friedberg book continues to be a classic reference for U.S. Paper Money. However, its strength is still pre-1928, large size notes. There are far better references for small size paper money, notably the Standard Guide to Small Size U.S. Paper Money by Schwartz and Lindquist. For example, that book catalogs blocks, mules and other variations, something that friedberg doesn't even mention. However, having said that, Friedberg is still an important book for anyone interested in U.S. paper money to have in their library.

A must have for any collector of Collectible Paper Currency !!! This reference book is yearly updated (which is a must to stay on top of the ever changing pricing of these collectible notes) and goes into great detail of each and every U.S. Note ever printed with the current market value of the notes. Black and white pictures of each note as well as breathe taking colored photos of each U.S. Note. I find I use this reference book everyday along with my other U.S. Paper Currency reference books in my private library.

THIS IS A NEEDED BOOK FOR ANY LARGE SIZE CURRENCY POTENTATE, BUT THE BOOK BY GEORGE CUHAJ "STANDARD CATALOG OF UNITED STATES PAPER MONEY,26 ed." IS MUCH MORE ACCURATE WITH BOTH LARGE AND SMALL VALUES AND NUMBERS PRINTED.

Being a coin collector, I purchased this book to give me a guide on Gold Certificates as they caught my eye recently at the Carson City Coin Show. The book flows through the different eras of US paper money to the National Bank notes, Federal Reserve notes, fractionals, etc. My only issue with the book was that I would have liked to have seen more color pictures of the bank notes, especially the 1905 $20 "Technicolor" Gold Certificates.

Now my only problem, as a coin collector, is that I have a list of Federal Reserve bank notes and Gold Certificates I just have to have in my collection. HA!

This is an outgrowth of Robert Freidberg's seminal work cataloging U.S. currency. It is most useful in reference to the Large Size currency. Given the cost of this work, I am disappointed to see no color illustrations. As with any catalog and value guide, the pricing information is instantly obsolete on publication. The rise of 3rd Party Grading Services also impacts the utility of such a volume, as the science(?) of grading has greatly expanded the range of attainable grades requiring valuation.

Recommended, with the caveat that it is strictly an identification reference, not a price guide.